Binding device for securing a boot suited to walking to a gliding board

ABSTRACT

Front binding device for securing a boot to a gliding board comprising a jaw connected to a device comprising a release mechanism, wherein the jaw comprises a securing bar having a bearing surface sloping upward and a base kept in contact with the device by a connection allowing the jaw to rotate laterally and vertically with respect to the device. Sports boot able to be fixed to a gliding board comprising a sole, comprising a rear kerb to be fixed by the jaw of a heel piece, wherein the sole comprises a hollowed-out region, a binding element having the shape of a V pointing toward the front of the boot, the hollow of the V-shape being approximately centered on the width of the boot, positioned toward the front of the boot and placed above the hollowed-out region.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to a releasable binding device for a glidingboard, which we shall also term more simply a “binding”, for securing aboot to a gliding board while at the same time allowing it to bereleased when it experiences loadings above a certain threshold, forsafety reasons. More specifically, the invention relates to an end stopfor such a binding, to a boot compatible with this end stop, and to aboot/binding system. It also relates to a set of boot/binding systems inwhich the boots represent the set of existing shoe sizes. It isparticularly suited to ski bindings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART

A conventional ski binding is made up of a heel piece and of a front endstop, which are positioned on a ski, comprising jaws that collaboratewith rear and front kerbs provided on the soles of the ski boots. Thesejaws are connected to complex mechanisms for implementing the releasefunctions to release the boot. Ski boots have of necessity to be stiffin order to guide the ski correctly. Their soles are also stiff andextend over a length greater than that of the boot because they have akerb at each end. A first disadvantage with these boots stems from thefact that they are ill-suited to walking, because of these soles, andthis makes moving around when not wearing the skis somewhat difficult. Asecond disadvantage of these bindings stems from the fact that they aredependent on the shoe size of the boot because their separation has tocorrespond to the length of the boot, so as to collaborate with itsfront and rear kerbs, which makes them complicated devices. A thirddisadvantage with these bindings stems from the fact that they lead to asignificant bulk on a gliding board because one device is positioned atthe front and one at the rear of the boot, something which is not veryattractive and is an impediment in the case of gliding boards the lengthof which may be short.

Another type of ski boot binding has been proposed in patent FR 2 794028. This solution relies on boots having a sole the surface of whichcomprises, at the front and at the rear, oblique surfaces that makewalking easier. The central region of the sole has a hollow with a flatbottom and sides of circular shape, into which hollow two metalbracket-shaped components constituting the first part of the binding arefixed. These components correspond with dihedral retaining membersbelonging to front and rear binding devices positioned on the ski. Thissolution has the following disadvantages:

it requires a boot with a complicated sole;

the entire binding operation is performed using elements positionedunder the sole and the skier has no visual frame of reference forcorrectly positioning his foot, making the solution somewhatun-user-friendly and potentially leading to incorrectly securedbindings;

the binding is based on front and rear devices on the ski of a noveltype, entailing a substantial modification to existing in conventionaldevices; in particular, the release of the boot at the front in theevent of a fall with twisting or backward is achieved through a novelapproach. The benefit of many years of development of these highlysensitive release mechanisms is lost and there is a risk that thissolution will present problems of reliability and of safety;

such a binding does not answer the problem presented by the commonplacepresence of snow stuck to the underside of the boot, known as a wedge ofsnow.

One object of the present invention is therefore to propose a newbinding device for securing a boot to a gliding board which does nothave the aforementioned disadvantages.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

More specifically, a first object of the present invention is to proposea binding device for securing a boot to a gliding board using a bootthat is better suited to walking.

A second object of the present invention is to propose a binding devicefor securing a boot to a gliding board that is not too bulky.

A third object of the present invention is to propose a binding devicefor securing a boot to a gliding board which allows secure binding evenwhen a wedge of snow is present.

A fourth object of the present invention is to propose a binding devicefor securing a boot to a gliding board that is simpler.

A fifth object of the present invention is to propose a binding devicefor securing a boot to a gliding board that guarantees correctpositioning of the foot, is reliable and is dependable.

The invention is based on a front binding device for securing a boot toa gliding board comprising a jaw connected to a device comprising arelease mechanism, wherein the jaw comprises a securing bar having abearing surface sloping upward and a base kept in contact with thedevice by a connection allowing the jaw to rotate laterally andvertically with respect to the device.

According to a first embodiment, the jaw is placed at the rear of thedevice and is kept in a binding position by a connection with a tie-rodpushed back by a spring of the device and the device comprises, towardthe rear, a raised feature for positioning the boot.

According to a second embodiment, the device is placed at the rear ofthe jaw, which is kept in contact with a front end stop by a pistonoperated by a spring of the device. The jaw may then comprise apartially cylindrical front surface which comes to bear against acylindrical surface of the front end stop.

Finally, the jaw may exhibit a shoulder for bearing against a bindingelement belonging to a boot.

The invention also relates to a sports boot able to be fixed to agliding board comprising a sole, comprising a rear kerb to be fixed bythe jaw of a heel piece, wherein the sole comprises a hollowed-outregion, a binding element having the shape of a V pointing toward thefront of the boot, the hollow of the V-shape being approximatelycentered on the width of the boot, positioned toward the front of theboot and placed above the hollowed-out region.

The binding element of the boot may have a V-shape the opening of whichranges between 15 and 35 millimeters and the depth of which rangesbetween 5 and 10 millimeters.

The distance between the end of the rear kerb and the point of the V ofthe binding element of the sole of the boot may range between 19 and 24centimeters.

The distance between the end of the rear kerb and the point of the V ofthe binding element of the sole of the boot may range between 19 and 22centimeters for a shoe size of between 23.5 and 27.5 and may rangebetween 22 and 24 centimeters for a shoe size of 27.5 or higher.

The sole of the boot additionally may comprise two stiff bearing regionsarranged longitudinally on each side of the hollowed-out region to bearagainst a corresponding surface on the gliding board.

The sole may also comprise a front region that is curved to make walkingeasier.

Finally, the sole may be made of rubber, and the binding element and/orthe stiff regions made of metal.

The invention also relates to a binding/sports boot system for securingthe boot to a gliding board comprising a heel piece and which comprisesa binding device as described hereinabove and comprises a boot asdescribed hereinabove.

Finally, the invention also relates to a set of boot/binding systems,comprising a set of boots as described hereinabove of different shoesizes, wherein the separation between the heel piece and the frontbinding device as described hereinabove in the set of binding devicescorresponding to the set of boots of different shoe sizes is constantand non-adjustable.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These objects, characteristics and advantages of the present inventionwill be set out in detail in the following description of someparticular embodiments given by way of nonlimiting examples inconjunction with the attached figures among which:

FIG. 1 depicts a simplified side view of a binding according to a firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 depicts a simplified side view of a section through the firstembodiment of the invention;

FIG. 3 depicts a simplified view from underneath of a section of thefirst embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 4 depicts a simplified perspective view from beneath of the sole ofa boot of the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 a depicts a perspective view of a catching element of the boot ofthe first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 b depicts a perspective view of a catching element of the bindingof the first embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 5 c depicts a perspective view of the collaboration between thecatching elements of the boot and of the binding of the first embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 6 depicts a simplified view from beneath of a section of thebinding of the first embodiment of the invention in a position oflateral release following a twisting movement;

FIG. 7 depicts a simplified side view of a section of the binding of thefirst embodiment of the invention in a release position upon a fallbackward;

FIG. 8 depicts a simplified side view in section on A-A of the bindingof the first embodiment of the invention, when a wedge of snow ispresent;

FIG. 9 depicts a simplified view from beneath of a section of thebinding of the first embodiment of the invention when a wedge of snow ispresent;

FIG. 10 depicts a simplified side view of a binding according to asecond embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 11 depicts a simplified view from beneath of a section on B-B of abinding according to a second embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 12 depicts a simplified side view of a binding according to asecond embodiment of the invention in a position of lateral releasefollowing a twisting action;

FIG. 13 depicts a simplified view from beneath of a section on C-C of abinding according to a second embodiment of the invention in a positionof lateral release following a twisting action;

FIG. 14 depicts a simplified view from beneath of a section on D-D of abinding according to a second embodiment of the invention in a positionof lateral release following a twisting action;

FIG. 15 depicts a simplified side view of a section of a bindingaccording to a second embodiment of the invention in a position ofrelease during a fall backward;

FIG. 16 depicts a view from above of a first variant of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 17 depicts a view in section on E-E of the first variant of thesecond embodiment;

FIG. 18 depicts a view from above of the first variant of the secondembodiment in a position of lateral release following a twisting action;

FIG. 19 depicts a view in section on F-F of the variant of the secondembodiment in a position of lateral release following a twisting action;

FIG. 20 depicts a view from above of a second variant of the secondembodiment;

FIG. 21 depicts a view from above of the second variant of the secondembodiment in a position of lateral release following a twisting action.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

The invention is based on boots having a special sole, comprising aconventional rear kerb and, for the remainder, an unconventional formthat will be described later on, collaborating with a device associatedwith a gliding board made up of a non-conventional front device and of aconventional heel piece. FIGS. 1 to 9 illustrate a first embodiment ofthe invention, in which figures only the front parts of the sole and ofthe binding device of the gliding board have been depicted, to make thefigures simpler and clearer.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the sole 1 of the boot comprises a binding orcatching element 2, made of metal, rectangular overall and one side ofwhich has a set-back V-shape 3. This element 2 passes transverselyacross a longitudinal hollowed-out region 6 of the sole of the boot andis fixed under the sole 1 on each side of this hollowed-out region 6 bytwo screws passing through lateral openings 4. The hollow of the V-shape3 of the element 2 is centered on the width of the sole, positioned andfacing forward and placed above the hollowed-out region 6. The sole 1also comprises two stiff regions 5, for example added metal plates 5,distributed one on each side of the hollowed-out region 6 of the sole 1in a longitudinal direction from front to back, their front part bearingagainst the binding element 2. The sole is flexible overall, made ofrubber, and has a tread surface 7 at the front that makes walkingeasier. The hollowed-out region 6 begins at the front of the sole andextends appreciably to the rear of the binding element 2 in thedirection of the region of the heel of the boot and allows any snow thatmay build up against the binding element 2 to be removed to the rear,while at the same time allowing the boot to be put into the binding, aswill be explained hereinafter.

The front binding device, positioned on the gliding board, comprises adevice 10 connected to an immobilizing member or jaw 11, placed simplyto bear against the rear surface of the device 10. This jaw 11 isintended to collaborate with the binding element 2 of the sole. Itcomprises a base 12 with an opening in which the end of the releasetie-rod 16 that will be described later is housed. It additionallycomprises a shoulder 13 intended to bear against the edge of the bindingelement 2 in the hollow of its V-shaped part 3, and a securing barcomprising a bearing surface 14 which is positioned on the bindingelement 2, in the space between the hollowed-out region 6 of the soleand the binding element 2 when the boot is placed in the binding, asdepicted in FIGS. 1 to 3. This collaboration between the elements 2 and11 is also illustrated in FIG. 5 c. The jaw 11 therefore rests against anarrow end comprising the elements 13 and 14 which is immobilized in thehollow of the V of the element 2. This small size advantageously makesit possible to define a binding element 2 on the boot that is small insize and does not occupy a great deal of space, the opening of the V ofwhich ranges between 15 and 35 millimeters and the depth of which rangesbetween 5 and 10 millimeters. This V-shaped part may have a slightlyrounded shape. This geometry of the V-shaped part 3 of the bindingelement 2 and that of the end part 13 and 14 of the jaw 11 makes itpossible to reach a good compromise between maintaining collaborationbetween these two elements and the ability of the boot to be released ifthe release mechanism is triggered. The base 12 of the jaw 11 has awidth that allows the release function to work by its turning, asdetailed hereinafter in relation to FIG. 6.

For the operation of putting the boot into the bindings, the user restshis foot on the gliding board and moves his boot forward until it comesinto abutment against the jaw 11. The V-shape of the binding element 2automatically guides and centers the jaw 11 on the boot and assures theskier that the correct position has been achieved in spite of theskier's inability to see this first phase of the procedure of puttingthe boot into the bindings. The second phase corresponds to thepositioning of the heel in the heel piece: this operation is easy anduser-friendly because it is done visually as in the case of conventionalsolutions.

The jaw 11 comprises a ball joint 15 incorporated into the opening ofits base 12, connected to a tie-rod 16, the front end 17 of whichcompresses a spring 18 contained in a space 19 of the device 10. Thecompression of the spring 18 can be adjusted by means of a screw 20which acts directly on the end 17 of the tie-rod 16 bearing against thespring 18. The device 10 additionally comprises a raised feature 21 todefine a bearing surface intended to accept metal plates 5 of the sole.In the boot binding configuration, the sole therefore rests on threesmall bearing surfaces: a central front bearing surface at the surface14 of the jaw 11 and two rear bearing surfaces between the plates 5 andthe raised feature 21, the separation of which guarantees goodstability.

This device allows the binding to release laterally. If the boot istwisted, the jaw 11 experiences a force that tends to cause it to turn.As depicted in FIG. 6, the lateral wall of the jaw 11 bears against thebase of the device 10 about an axis 22 which defines an axis ofrotation. When the twisting force exerted exceeds a certain threshold,the force transmitted to the tie-rod 16 is enough to overcome the forceof the spring 18 so as to cause the boot to turn, thus releasing theelement 2 of the sole from the jaw 11.

Likewise, in the event of a fall backward, an upward force is exerted onthe jaw 11 and tends to cause the jaw 11 to turn about an axis 23 incontact with the base of the device 10, allowing the boot to be releasedonce the force exceeds a certain threshold value.

FIGS. 8 and 9 depict the binding in a configuration in which a wedge ofsnow 24 is stuck under at least one of the metal plates 5 under the bootand/or on the binding itself. As their surface area is small, thisphenomenon is minimized. However, even when such a wedge of snow ispresent, securing the binding is still possible with the same level ofperformance. Indeed, in such cases, the boot remains positioned in aplane above the normal level, defined by the raised feature 21, and thejaw cannot drop down so far as to position its shoulder 13 against thebinding element 2. However, the securing bar of the jaw 11 is longenough to keep the surface 14 bearing against the V-shaped part 3 of theelement 2. In addition, since this surface 14 has an upward slope,whatever the precise points at which this surface 14 bears against theV-shaped part 3, the jaw 11 in all cases positions itself toward theclosed end of the V of the binding element in order always to exert, onthe one hand, a vertical bearing force which keeps the front of the bootagainst the gliding board and, on the other hand, two lateral bearingforces which provide lateral immobilization, because of its slopecollaborating with the V-shaped part 3 which prevents any side slip orlateral clearance on the part of the element 2 and therefore of theboot.

FIGS. 10 to 15 depict a second embodiment of the invention. The samereferences are used for elements that are the same or equivalent.

The sole 1 remains identical to that of the previous embodiment. Thedevice 10 is positioned under the sole, between the jaw 11 and the heelpiece, not depicted. It additionally comprises a front end stop 25 whichacts as a bearing surface for the jaw 11. The jaw 11 comprises apartially cylindrical front surface 26 which bears against acorresponding cylindrical surface 27 of the front end stop 25. Itadditionally comprises a rear surface 28 in its bottom part, againstwhich there bears a piston 29 pushed by a spring 18 of the device 10,the force of which can be adjusted by means of a screw 20. In theconfiguration for securing the binding and for putting the boot into thebinding, the jaw 11 behaves in the same way as in the first embodiment.

In a twisting phase depicted in FIGS. 12 to 14, the force transmitted bythe boot tends to cause the jaw 11 to turn by sliding of its surface 26against the surface 27 of the end stop 25. The piston 29 is thereforecompressed by the jaw 11 and opposes this turning. However, beyond acertain threshold value, the twisting force is strong enough to causethe jaw to turn, pushing the piston 29 back, to release the binding.

FIG. 15 illustrates the release of the binding in the case of a fallbackward. The jaw has a tendency to turn about an axis 23, the contactbetween the jaw 11 and the front end stop 25, pushing back the piston29.

According to the invention, the device on the gliding board is no longerdirectly associated with the shoe size of the boot. It is possible tochoose a constant distance between the heel piece and the front end stopof the binding for all boots. For example, such a distance correspondingwith a boot in which the distance d, illustrated in FIG. 14, between therear kerb of the heel and the point of the V of the binding element 2 isconstant for all shoe sizes and adopts a value ranging between 19 and 24centimeters is particularly suitable. As a variant, it is possible tochoose two different distances d, one to be used for all the small shoesizes and the other for all the large shoe sizes. For example, adistance d of about 19.5 centimeters is particularly suited to a bootwith a shoe size ranging between 23.5 and 27.5 and a distance d of about23 centimeters is particularly suited for a boot of a shoe size of 27.5or higher.

A collection of binding devices and of boots of all shoe sizes willtherefore be very simple to produce because the binding devices may havean identical and constant separation, without any need for adjustment,between the heel piece and the front end stop for several boots ofdifferent shoe sizes or even for all boots.

Finally, the solution according to the invention presents the followingadvantages:

-   -   it is based on a boot, the sole of which is relatively flexible,        except for stiff elements of small surface area, and the front        surface of which is flexible and curved to define a tread        surface. This boot is therefore better suited to walking than        conventional boots;    -   it allows the heel piece and the front binding device to be        moved appreciably closer together, thus reducing the surface        area needed for positioning the binding elements on the gliding        board. It therefore occupies little space. Note that the second        embodiment succeeds in minimizing the bulk;    -   it allows the binding to be secured even when there is a wedge        of snow present, this securing of the binding additionally        remaining play-free;    -   it is simpler because the boot has a very simple sole. In        addition, the binding device on the gliding board is no longer        directly associated with the shoe size of the boot and no longer        of necessity requires adjusting devices. It may be possible to        select the same distance between the heel piece and the front        end stop of the binding for all boots. As a variant, it is        possible to choose several different distances, each of them        being applied to a set of boots of different shoe sizes;    -   it makes for user-friendly and easy putting of the boot into the        binding because all that is required is for the front of the        boot to be slid in and the rear kerb positioned visually in the        heel piece;    -   it is reliable and dependable because release of the binding        partially makes use of ready-validated release methods.

FIGS. 16 to 21 depict advantageous variants of the second embodiment ofthe invention, which could also be implemented in respect of the firstembodiment.

In the first variant illustrated in FIG. 16 to 19, the jaw 11 is mountedso that it is able to turn about an axis 30 on a lower part 31 and thushas an additional degree of freedom. In the binding-secured positionillustrated in FIGS. 16 and 17, the jaw 11 rests on the upper surface ofthe device 10. An end stop 32 of the lower part 31 prevents it fromrotating upward with respect to this lower part 31. When the bindingreleases as a result of a twisting action, the jaw 11 turns about avertical axis, as explained previously, until it reaches its positioninclined at 90° as depicted in FIG. 18. In this embodiment variant,during this rotational movement as a result of twisting, the jaw 11remains bearing against the surface 33 of the device which has a slightdownward slope in the appreciably circular travel of the jaw. Thus, inthe extreme position depicted in FIGS. 18 and 19, the jaw 11 has turneddownward slightly simply under gravity about the axis of rotation 30 tooccupy a position about 10 millimeters lower down, particularly visiblein FIG. 19. The advantage of this embodiment variant is that it allowsfor easier lateral release of the boot in the event of a fall withtwisting because retraction of the jaw reduces the impediment that itmight cause.

In the second variant illustrated in FIGS. 20 and 21, the assemblycomprising the piston 29 and the spring 18 of the device 10 is replacedby a pair of pistons 29, 29′ and springs 18, 18′. When there is a fallwith twisting as illustrated in FIG. 21, the jaw 11 on the whole beginsto bear against just one piston 29 and the force resisting the twistingmovement is therefore defined by the spring 18 alone. By contrast, bothsprings resist a backward fall and therefore offer twice as muchresistance as is offered against twisting. The advantage with thisvariant is that it readily allows a difference in release stiffnessesbetween twisting and falling backward. Note that this solution can alsobe applied to the first embodiment and, more generally, to any bindingwith two release modes, one for twisting and one for falling backward.In more complicated configurations, more than two parallel springs maybe used.

1. A front binding device for securing a boot to a gliding boardcomprising a jaw (11) connected to a device (10; 10, 25) comprising arelease mechanism, wherein the jaw (11) comprises a securing bar havinga bearing surface (14) sloping upward and a base (12) kept in contactwith the device (10; 10, 25) by a connection allowing the jaw (11) torotate laterally and vertically with respect to the device (10).
 2. Thefront binding device for securing a boot to a gliding board as claimedin claim 1, wherein the jaw (11) is placed at the rear of the device(10) and is kept in a binding position by a connection with a tie-rod(16) pushed back by a spring (18) of the device (10) and which bindingdevice comprises, toward the rear, a raised feature (21) for positioningthe boot.
 3. The front binding device for securing a boot to a glidingboard as claimed in claim 1, wherein the device (10) is placed at therear of the jaw (11), which is kept in contact with a front end stop(25) by a piston (29) operated by a spring (18) of the device (10). 4.The front binding device for securing a boot to a gliding board asclaimed in claim 3, wherein the jaw (11) comprises a partiallycylindrical front surface (26) which comes to bear against a cylindricalsurface (27) of the front end stop (25).
 5. The front binding device forsecuring a boot to a gliding board as claimed in claim 3, wherein thedevice comprises several pistons (29, 29′) operated by respectivesprings (18, 18′) mounted in parallel.
 6. The front binding device forsecuring a boot to a gliding board as claimed in claim 1, wherein thejaw (11) exhibits a shoulder (13) for bearing against a binding element(2) belonging to a boot.
 7. The front binding device for securing a bootto a gliding board as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jaw is able tomove about an axis (30), remains bearing against the upper surface (33)of the device, this surface having a downward slope in the form of anarc of a circle, followed by the jaw (11), in the event of a fall withtwisting so as to retract the jaw in such a fall.
 8. A sports boot ableto be fixed to a gliding board comprising a sole (1), comprising a rearkerb to be fixed by the jaw of a heel piece, wherein the sole (1)comprises a hollowed-out region (6), a binding element (2) having theshape of a V (3) pointing toward the front of the boot, the hollow ofthe V-shape (3) being approximately centered on the width of the boot,positioned toward the front of the boot and placed above thehollowed-out region (6).
 9. The sports boot as claimed in claim 8,wherein the binding element (2) has a V-shape the opening of whichranges between 15 and 35 millimeters and the depth of which rangesbetween 5 and 10 millimeters.
 10. The sports boot as claimed in claim 8,wherein the distance between the end of the rear kerb and the point ofthe V (3) of the binding element (2) of the sole (1) of the boot rangesbetween 19 and 24 centimeters.
 11. The sports boot as claimed in claim8, wherein the distance between the end of the rear kerb and the pointof the V (3) of the binding element (2) of the sole (1) of the bootranges between 19 and 22 centimeters for a shoe size of between 23.5 and27.5 and ranges between 22 and 24 centimeters for a shoe size of 27.5 orhigher.
 12. The sports boot as claimed in claim 8, wherein the soleadditionally comprises two stiff bearing regions (5) arrangedlongitudinally on each side of the hollowed-out region (6) to bearagainst a corresponding surface on the gliding board.
 13. The sportsboot as claimed in claim 8, wherein the sole (1) comprises a frontregion (7) that is curved to make walking easier.
 14. The sports boot asclaimed in claim 8, wherein the sole (1) is made of rubber and thebinding element (2) and/or the stiff regions (5) are made of metal. 15.A binding/sports boot system for securing the boot to a gliding boardcomprising a heel piece and which comprises a front binding devicecomprising a jaw connected to a device comprising a release mechanism,wherein the jaw comprises a securing bar having a bearing surfacesloping upward and a base kept in contact with the device by aconnection allowing the jaw to rotate laterally and vertically withrespect to the device and comprises a boot as claimed in claim
 8. 16. Aset of boot/binding systems as claimed in claim 15, comprising a set ofboots of different shoe sizes, able to be fixed to a gliding boardcomprising a sole, comprising a rear kerb to be fixed by the jaw of aheel piece, wherein the sole comprises a hollowed-out region, a bindingelement having the shape of a V pointing toward the front of the boot,the hollow of the V-shape being approximately centered on the width ofthe boot, positioned toward the front of the boot and placed above thehollowed-out region; wherein the separation between the heel piece andthe front binding devices, comprising a jaw connected to a devicecomprising a release mechanism, wherein the jaw comprises a securing barhaving a bearing surface sloping upward and a base kept in contact withthe device by a connection allowing the jaw to rotate laterally andvertically with respect to the device, in the set of binding devicescorresponding to the set of boots of different shoe sizes is constantand non-adjustable.